Stuðlagil

About Stuðlagil

Stuðlagil is a basalt-column canyon on the Jökla river in Jökuldalur, East Iceland, about 70 kilometers west of Egilsstaðir. For decades its walls of tall, regular columns sat underwater, hidden by the heavy glacial river. Then the Kárahnjúkar dam diverted much of the Jökla's flow in the late 2000s, the water level dropped, and a blue-green river now runs between the columns.

Stuðlagil canyon is roughly an hour's drive from Egilsstaðir, and both ways in start from Road 923, which leaves the Ring Road in the valley. You choose between two sides, and they offer quite different experiences.

The west side, at the farm Grund, is the easy option. A flat path leads from the parking lot to viewing platforms on the rim, and stairs added in 2025 take you closer to the water. Allow 20 to 30 minutes, and note that there are paid restrooms here.

The east side, from the farm Klaustursel, is the Stuðlagil canyon hike, and it is the only way to stand at river level among the basalt columns. From the parking lot by the bridge it is about 5 kilometers each way along the river, passing the Stuðlafoss waterfall, so allow 2 to 4 hours round trip. A second lot about 2 kilometers farther on cuts the walk in half, but the dirt track to it needs a high-clearance vehicle, and there are no toilets on this side.

Timing matters more here than at most places. The water is clearest from late June through July, and from August overflow from the reservoir upstream can turn the river gray and murky for the rest of the season. In July and August, arrive before 8 a.m., because both lots fill by mid-morning. In winter the west viewpoint usually stays accessible, while snow and ice make the east trail unsafe.

Both lots charge a parking fee, paid through the Parka app with the QR code on site, so pay before you lose signal. Bring waterproof shoes and warm layers, since summer temperatures here average only 7 to 8.5°C. Swimming is a bad idea: the current is strong and the water stays near freezing all year.